Oklahoma State gets another shot to steady itself in Week 10, and the matchup with Kansas State looks like the kind of spot where the Cowboys can let their passing game do the heavy lifting.
The Cowboys are coming off a brutal 51-49 loss to Iowa State, a shootout that knocked them out of the Big 12 Championship Game picture. That kind of defeat can sting, but it also sets up a clear response opportunity against a Kansas State team that has dropped two straight.
The biggest reason to like Oklahoma State here starts with Drew Mestermaker. He’s been one of the best quarterbacks in college football, and even in last week’s loss he was excellent aside from one interception.
He finished with 323 passing yards, five touchdowns and 16 rushing yards. If Oklahoma State gets even a decent showing from its defense, that kind of production gives the Cowboys a real chance to come away with a comfortable win.
Kansas State’s defense is not built to slow this attack down. The Wildcats rank 82nd in opponent EPA per pass, which is a rough draw against Mestermaker and the Oklahoma State aerial game.
There is a path for Kansas State to make things interesting, though it comes through the air. Oklahoma State has had trouble defending the pass this season, but the Wildcats are only 74th in EPA per pass, so they do not exactly bring a high-powered answer to that weakness.
With the stylistic edge leaning toward the Cowboys, the play is to lay the points with Oklahoma State.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State May Have To Reshape Its Defense At Worst Time
Oklahoma State is still sorting through the fallout from the Iowa State game, and the timing could hardly be worse with Kansas State next on the schedule. Head coach Eric Morris said linebackers Tate Romney and defensive end Jaleel Johnson are both dealing with injuries and will be monitored as the week goes on, leaving the Cowboys to weigh their depth on defense if either player cannot go.
There is at least one confirmed absence already, with tight end Carson Kolb ruled out because of a foot injury. For a team trying to steady itself in a tough stretch, the uncertainty around Romney and Johnson adds another layer to the challenge, and the staff may have to lean on backup options depending on how the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Defining Response Game At Kansas State
Oklahoma States next chance to steady things comes in a familiar Big 12 setting, with a trip to Bill Snyder Family Stadium for its only game in Kansas this season. The matchup is set for noon and will air on TNT and HBO Max, giving the Cowboys a national window as they try to answer the kind of questions that tend to follow a rough stretch.
Kansas State will be in a different quarterback situation again, with Avery Johnson still unavailable and Blake Barnett lined up to start. For Oklahoma State, that adds another layer to a road test that already carries some weight, because this is the sort of game that can shape how the rest of the season is viewed if the Cowboys handle it well. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Fans Got Another Reminder To Watch Former Pokes Sundays
Week 8 was another reminder that plenty of former Oklahoma State standouts are still making noise on Sundays. Jaylen Warren led the way for the Pittsburgh Steelers, piling up 143 rushing yards and a touchdown in a win over the Cleveland Browns, a performance that once again put a former Poke in the middle of a meaningful NFL result.
And Warren was hardly alone. Chuba Hubbard turned in another productive outing, while Ollie Gordon II, Malcolm Rodriguez, Justice Hill and Tylan Wallace all found ways to contribute for their teams across the league. For Oklahoma State fans, it was the kind of weekend that reinforces how much NFL interest still runs through Stillwater, even if the biggest individual numbers belonged to one familiar name. [Read more 🡒]